Car-coupling



(No Model.) v

G. F. MURRAY.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 449,561. Patented Mar. 31,1891.

on 0 M M W W/T/VESSES:

fl ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

CHARLES F. MURRAY, OF CEDAR FALLS, IOWA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,561, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed December 11, 1890. Serial No. 374,321. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. MURRAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cedar Falls, in the county of Black Hawk and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a bottom ortop view. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, with operating mechanism attached, and Figs. 4: and 5 are detail views.

My invention relates to an improvement in car-coupling in which a movable couplingbar acts in conjunction with a spring-catch; and the objects of my improvement are, first, to provide an automatic coupling; second, to provide a means of coupling and uncoupling cars without the'necessity of standing between them, and, third, to provide a means of controlling the coupling from the side of the car by means of a lever.

The draw-heads A A occupy the relative position shown, and are attached under the car in the usual manner and incontact with the bumpers. They are constructed with an opening P in the outer end suitable for holding the ordinary coupling-link, Fig. 1, and hollowed out at the other end so as to receive and allow the movement of the springcatch 0, Fig. 1. (Also shown in Fig. 3.) The catch 0 is held in place by and turns on a pin W, the projection on G working through the slot V, Fig. 3. On one side of the drawhead A is a slotted shoulder R, and at a point near the outer end, but on the same side, isa

' lug E, each of which is fitted with a pin-hole.

The coupling-bar is constructed with a semielliptical outer end and having a notch S extending half its width near the outer end, with a slot near the inner end, and a projection X, each .fitted wit-h a pin-hole and designed to fit over a lug E and into the shoulder R on the draw-head A. The pin-hole O in the projection X is enlarged laterally, and the pin-hole in the lug E is made larger than the corresponding opening in the coupling-bar B, so as to allow the lateral movement of the cars while in motion and avoid strain upon the bars. The upward and downward motion of the cars on their springs causes the bars to slip up and down on the projection of the catch 0. The projection on the catch 0 is forced out through the slot V and held there.

by means of the spring D. (Shown in Fig. 3.) This catch is drawn into the draw-head by means of a chain attached to it, and being at its other end attached to a quadrant K, turning on a pin Y, and actuated by a movable bar L. This bar may be attached on any part of the outer rim of the quadrant K, thus taking up any slack in the chain N.

To the outer end of the movable bar L is attached a chain, which is fastened to and winds upon a rim-wheel J, turning with the rod H, which extends beyond each side of the car and is there bent upward, the end forming a lever by means of which it is turned.

When the coupling-catch C is drawn out, by turning the lever down the lever is held in place by the catch 1, thus holding the catch 0 in such manner that cars may be switched without their being coupled automatically. At the side of the draw-head there is attached to the car a short projecting guide G, to prevent the coupling-bar from striking the end of the car. All of the above-described parts are of any suitable material.

The action is as follows: A coupling-bar B is attached at each end of the car and on the corresponding side of the draw-head, as above described, the draw-heads being constructed and fitted as herein described. The projection of the catch C is forced out of the slotV in each draw-head by means of the spring D. Now as the cars are forced together the coupling-bars pass on the side of the opposite draw-head, directed by the guide G, and as the elliptical ends come in contact with the projection on the catch 0 the catch is forced back into the draw-head until it reaches the notch S in the coupling-bar B, when the spring D forces out the catch 0 and holds it there. The coupling is complete.

In order to uncouple the cars, thelever end of the rod H is pulled downward and forced into the catch 1, the rod H is turned, winding the chain M on the rim-wheel .T, and drawing the quadrant toward it. The catch 0 is drawn by the chain N into the draw-headand held there. Turn the lever on the adjacent car down in the same manner, the action being the same upon the several parts. The cars are thus uncoupled and maybe switched or shoved by other cars without becoming coupled.

Should it be necessary to couple a car pro.- vided with this coupling with one having a link-andpin draw-head, the pin at the slot T may be withdrawn and the coupling bar turned backward under the car and fastened in a carrier there provided for it in such a manner as to clasp the end or any other part sufliciently to hold it in place. The draw-bar having been thus turned back, the ordinary coupling may be made.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The car-coupling comprising the. drawheads, each having pivoted therein a spring actuated catch projecting through opposite sides of the two heads, said draw-heads also having pivoted to their outer sides a hooked coupling-bar adapted to engage the pivoted spring-actuated catch of the opposite head, substantially as specified.

2. The car-coupling comprising the drawheads having 011 their outer faces the pivot: lugs, hooked coupling-bars pivoted in such lugs in such a manner asto allow a limited lateral movement of the said bars, each bar having a hooked head adapted to engage a spring-actuated catch pivoted in the opposite draw-head, and means for retracting the springof said catch, substantially as described.

I11 testimony whereof I a'i'fix my signature in AC presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. MURRAY.

\Vitnesses:

H. C. IIEMENWAY, S. B. HUMBERT. 

